Travis Decker, Dad Accused of Killing 3 Daughters, Possibly Spotted in Idaho Forest

 Possible Sighting of Missing Father Travis Decker in Idaho

A man resembling Travis Decker, the missing father suspected of killing his three young daughters over a month ago, was reportedly seen in Idaho during the ongoing manhunt.

On Saturday, July 5, a family camping in the Bear Creek area of the Sawtooth National Forest spotted a man matching Decker’s description, according to Fox 13 Seattle, citing the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Task Force.

The family described the man as a white male approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a black mesh cap, black gauged earrings, a cream-colored T-shirt, and black shorts. He had a long ponytail, an overgrown beard and mustache, and was wearing low-top shoes, either Converse or Vans, as reported by KOMO News, an ABC-affiliated station.

Update on Possible Sighting of Missing Father Travis Decker in Idaho

According to Idaho News 6, the man spotted in the Sawtooth National Forest was also wearing a black Garmin watch and carrying a black JanSport backpack.

A U.S. Marshals spokesperson told the outlet that the family who spotted the man noted he avoided eye contact and did not respond when spoken to.

The spokesperson added that cabin owners in the area had been informed about the reported sighting.

As of now, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office have not responded to requests from PEOPLE for additional information.

This sighting report follows the tragic discovery on Monday, June 2, of Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, who were found dead.

 

Details on the Discovery and Cause of Death of the Decker Girls

The three girls were found deceased at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time after authorities located their father’s car near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, the Wenatchee Police Department said in a statement released Tuesday, June 3.

Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, had not been seen since they left with their father for a planned visitation on Friday, May 30.

On Monday, June 9, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a press release shared with PEOPLE that an autopsy had been completed by the medical examiner.

“The cause of death was determined to be suffocation and the manner of death was determined to be homicide,” the release stated.

As the manhunt for Travis Decker continues, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison spoke to PEOPLE about the possibility that Decker could still be found alive.

DNA Confirmation and Ongoing Investigation in Travis Decker Case

On Tuesday, July 1, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced that the Washington State Crime Lab confirmed the DNA found in blood on the tailgate of Travis Decker’s truck matched the U.S. Army veteran’s DNA profile.

Law enforcement said Decker’s abandoned truck was discovered on June 2 in a remote area of the Rock Island Campground in Washington state — leading to the discovery of the bodies of his three young daughters. Decker’s wallet and cellphone were also found at the scene.

Sheriff Mike Morrison told PEOPLE that investigators believe the blood on the truck likely came from an injury, though the severity of that injury remains unclear.

“I would imagine most likely if he were to have died, it would’ve been from falling; an injury maybe got infected to the point where it did cause him, you know, some further issues or he drowned,” Morrison said.

He added, “There’s certainly a lot of possibilities and if we do find him deceased, of course we’re going to do a full autopsy on him just to get confirmation on his cause of death.”

Travis Decker is currently wanted on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.

A GoFundMe page set up to assist the girls’ mother and Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney Decker, with expenses and legal costs has raised over $1.2 million as of Monday, July 7.